On campus program
Finance for Boards

Gain the confidence to make smart financial decisions

On campus program

Finance for Boards

Gain the confidence to make smart financial decisions

Location
Lausanne
Length
2 days
Fee
CHF 6,600
Next program starts
07 March 2025
Eligible for
Make smart strategic decisions based on hard financial data

Gone are the times when board members could listen to the CFO, smile, and candidly state that finance was not their piece of cake.

In a fast-changing and increasingly competitive business environment, you are expected to have a solid grasp of finance so you can constructively challenge the management team on finance reports, and make strategic decisions based on hard finance data.

IMD’s Finance for Boards is designed to give you the essential finance knowledge you need to make tough decisions for your company in areas such as mergers & acquisitions as well as risk management. You will develop an awareness of the deep financial implications of your strategic choices.

Developed and led by the IMD Global Board Center, this program is grounded in the latest insights and best practices, empowering you to lead the future of governance with confidence and foresight.

Gain finance literacy

Master the main financial valuation methods and their meanings.

Make sense of reports

Be at ease reviewing and challenging financial reports presented to you.

Assess risk

Understand the company risk framework and their implications for capital structure choice.

Deep dive into M&A

Grasp the value behind mergers and acquisitions.

Is this program for you?

Our board programs are suitable for a wide range of board professionals including board members, chairpersons, board secretaries, aspiring board members, and professionals working closely with boards. We also welcome family business members and teams.

Benefit from a complimentary profile assessment to see if this is the right program for you.

What our participants say
Jacqueline Hess

Vice-Chair Board of Directors, Vontobel Swiss Financial Advisers AG, Switzerland

Although I had a strong finance background, Finance for Boards helped me to recognize my strengths, increase my effectiveness, and find the areas I needed to review.

Andreea Achim

Chief Financial Officer, Raiffeisen BANK dd BIH, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Everything I took away from this program will have an applicability in the board structure we have. I will, for sure, apply many of the concepts.

Christiane Kuehne

Non Executive Board Member and Chair of the Sustainability & Ethics Committee at Stora Enso, Finland

Finance for Boards gave me an excellent overview of my strengths and weaknesses, and how to work with both.

Experience the program
“A lot of room to experiment and practice the theory we learn.” – Discover the program highlights & hear more from past participants.
Your learning journey
Day 1

Driving financial performance

  • Explore the main determinants of value creation (operational and financial KPIs and the relevant value drivers).
  • Review the financials of several companies and make sense of the numbers.
  • Discuss asset-based measures of financial performance (ROIC and/or ROCE), and market- related KPIs, such as PE and PEG ratios.
  • Address cost of capital considerations (including WACC).
Day 2

Capital structure, ESG financing for boards, and Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Address capital structure and risk appetite.
  • Examine the determinants of capital structure choices.
  • Look at the options available to companies striving to finance a green transition.
  • Understand the key success factors in M&A and learn best-in-class practices.
  • Take part in an M&A simulation.
Board community
A valuable board community

On completion of this program, you will be part of IMD’s board community. This network of board program alumni meets regularly – face-to-face and virtually – to exchange board experiences from different contexts and discuss the latest developments and trends in governance. You will be able to count on this valuable community of peers for advice and support far into the future.

Next start & fee

Length: 2 days on campus.

Dates
7 Mar – 8 Mar 2025
Location
Lausanne
Length
2 days
Price
CHF 6,600
Dates
11 Jun – 12 Jun 2025
Location
Lausanne
Length
2 days
Price
CHF 6,600
Dates
21 Nov – 22 Nov 2025
Location
Lausanne
Length
2 days
Price
CHF 6,600

Tuition, teaching materials, and lunch are included.
All fees quoted are exclusive of any value-added or other indirect taxes that may be due in any country.
IMD reserves the right to modify the program dates, location, and fee at any time.

Together, we analyze real-life examples of transactions brought to the board for decision making. You will be asked to challenge financial reports and make informed recommendations.

Read more

Salvatore Cantale Program Director
Salvatore Cantale’s publications
IMD board diplomas
Two pathways to board excellence

Make your mark in the boardroom with IMD’s board diplomas, for aspiring or seasoned board members.

IMD board diplomas

Two pathways to board excellence

Make your mark in the boardroom with IMD’s board diplomas, for aspiring or seasoned board members.

One step closer to joining IMD alumni network

Successful completion of this program takes you one step closer to joining IMD’s powerful alumni network.

130k+ alumni

Networking

250+ events per year

Communities

50+ clubs worldwide

Resources

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